How does Care222® work?
The Science
Say hello to Dr. Holger Claus, our distinguished UV light expert, with over 30 years of researching and developing new lighting, optical, and electrical products. Dr. Holger will serve as your guide in unraveling the science of UV and Far UV-C light. He’ll break down how UV light works, how it affects us, and will illuminate new innovations that have been made in the Far UV-C technology space.
UV Light Disinfection: An Introduction
UV lights have been used as a disinfectant in medical and food-processing facilities for years. Unfortunately, UV light disinfection has not been able to take place while people were present - until now.
Far UV-C 222nm Light Reduces Germs Without Penetrating Skin or Eyes
While longer wavelengths like 254nm can penetrate the layers of our skin and cause burns, skin cancer, and damage to the DNA in our skin cells, the shorter wavelength of Far UV-C 222nm light has a limited ability to penetrate past the outer layer of our skin. This layer, the stratum corneum, consists of dead skin cells and serves as the primary barrier between our bodies and the environment. The outermost section of our eye, known as the tear layer, functions in a similar manner, preventing penetration of the 222nm wavelength into the cornea.
Far UV-C 222nm Light Can Reduce How Often We Use Chemicals
Since Far UV-C 222nm light can be used with people present, it can reduce the number of pathogens in the air and on surfaces continuously. This can reduce how often chemicals must be used throughout the day to keep our shared spaces clean.
Far UV-C Even Reduces Spread of Airborne Viruses & Bacteria
Far UV-C light, unlike traditional UV-C, can effectively reduce viruses and bacteria in the air without needing to evacuate the area. Even with people present, Far UV-C can consistently decrease germs in the air and on surfaces - offering a safe and efficient solution for a cleaner environment.
Filtered Far UV-C: How Care222® Technology Stands Apart
The real breakthrough in our technology came with the development of a new kind of light filtration system. Our Far UV-C excimer lamp module with short pass filter prevents longer wavelengths of UV light that are above 230nm from being emitted—an especially important feature that other 222nm and Far UV-C emitting products do not have. That’s why the proprietary Care222® module is a better choice than unfiltered excimer lamps used in disinfecting systems.
Ushio’s Care222® filtered Far UV-C technology (“Care222 Technology”) is protected under U.S. and non-U.S. patents covering apparatuses and methods for inactivating viruses or killing bacteria with combinations of a light source and an optical filter that block potentially harmful UV-C wavelengths. Inventions in these patents are credited to Dr. David Brenner, et al., and assigned to Columbia University. Ushio Inc. is the worldwide exclusive licensee of these patents.
Care222 Science
This is where we get to geek out a bit over our science.
Now you don’t have to love science like we do to benefit from Care222 systems, but we do want to share some of the science behind our technology. The best way to do this is to talk about UV light, wavelengths, and the filter that makes our light so remarkable.
Care222 excimer lamps produce something called Far UV-C 222nm light. Our excimer lamps contain a chamber filled with noble gas that does not use inner electrodes or contain mercury. When high voltage is applied across the outside of the glass it “excites” the gas inside, causing Far UV-C 222nm light to be emitted.
The most significant difference between our 222nm light and the standard 254nm light is the wavelength.
The shorter wavelength of Far UV-C 222nm light has a limited ability to penetrate past the outer layer of our skin. This layer, the stratum corneum, consists of dead skin cells and serves as the primary barrier between our bodies and the environment.
Conversely, longer wavelengths like 254nm can penetrate the layers of our skin, and cause burns, skin cancer, and damage to the DNA in our skin cells.
The real breakthrough in our technology came with the development of a new kind of light filtration system. Our Far UV-C excimer lamp module with short pass filter prevents longer wavelengths of UV light that are above 230nm from being emitted—an especially important feature that other 222nm and Far UV-C emitting products do not have. That’s why the proprietary Care222 module is a better choice than unfiltered excimer lamps used in disinfecting systems.
Ushio’s Care222® filtered Far UV-C technology (“Care222 Technology”) is protected under U.S. and non-U.S. patents covering apparatuses and methods for inactivating viruses or killing bacteria with combinations of a light source and an optical filter that block potentially harmful UV-C wavelengths. Inventions in these patents are credited to Dr. David Brenner, et al., and assigned to Columbia University. Ushio Inc. is the worldwide exclusive licensee of these patents.
